Faith (31 page)

ASPLENDID sunrise ushered in Faith
Kallahan's wedding day. The air smelled sweetly fragrant
from rain that had fallen intermittently during the night.

Early morning sunlight filtered through the open window,
spreading rays of warmth across the quilt Faith snuggled
beneath. She lazily stirred, thinking how symbolic the rising
sun was to her heart. Warm and wonderful. Not a single
doubt to be found. She had never thought Nicholas Shepherd could produce such a fuzzy feeling inside her, but he
did-oh, how he did! Smiling, she stretched, wiggling her
toes. Father, your goodness takes my breath away!

To know Nicholas loved her in return made her heady
with delight. Liza, willing and eager to accept her as her
daughter-it was more happiness than one woman could
expect in a lifetime.

Faith took ample time to count her blessings and the way
God had intervened at the last possible moment. She was
reminded that often that was his way. She smiled, knowing
his way was divine and perfect. "Just around the bend,"
Bessie Lewis had predicted.

A gentle knock at the door broke into her musings.

"Faith?"

Nicholas. She'd warned him the night before that the
groom was not to see the bride on their wedding day until
she walked down the aisle. That tradition was strictly
adhered to on Papa's Irish side of the family. As for her
French heritage, those customs had never been explained
to her.

"Are you awake?" Nicholas called.

Clutching the quilt to her neck she called back, "Yes,
Nicholas. I'm awake. Is something wrong?" She would not
permit anything to interfere with the day's festivities, no
matter how dour. By nightfall she was going to be Mrs.
Nicholas Shepherd.

"No, I just wanted you to know I'm leaving now."

Faith bolted upright in bed. "Leaving?"

"I'm going to the church."

She glanced at the sunrise. It couldn't be much past six.
"Isn't it a little early? The wedding isn't until two o'clock."

"Are you getting cold feet?"

Tension drained, and she grinned sheepishly. "No, Mr.
Shepherd, I don't have cold feet."

"Neither do I." His voice dropped to a low timbre. "Make sure you're there on time. I'd hate to put on my
Sunday best to be jilted at the altar," he teased.

Her breath caught and shivers raced down her arms. "I
promise you won't be jilted. Why are you leaving so early?"

"There are a few things that need my attention. And
you're the one who insisted I am forbidden to lay eyes on
you until the ceremony."

"You can't." She grinned. "And don't you be forgetting it."

His tone sobered. "I love you-be at the church on
time."

"I love you, too." Faith toyed with a strand of her long
dark hair. "But it's going to cost you."

"Cost me? I've already spent a fortune on this wedding!"

Faith playfully tossed a pointy shoe at the door, hitting the
target with a dull thud. "That was merely a down payment."

"Name your price, darling." His voice was soft and sincere. "Whatever the price, I'll pay."

"The rest of your life," she murmured. "For richer, for
poorer. In sickness, in health. Until-"

"Death do us part."

"That long and more," she returned softly. "I'll meet you
at the church, Nick." Her eyes welled as she slid back on
the pillow, listening to the sounds of his footsteps receding
down the hallway.

Throwing the covers back, she jumped out of bed, eager
for the day to begin. No more talk of recitals of vows and
parlor weddings. On this very day, Nicholas Shepherd and
Faith Kallahan would be joined together in the sight of God. As she pulled her bag from beneath the bed, she heard
the sound of Nicholas's horse leave the yard. For a fleeting
moment she was tempted to rush to the window to sneak a
last peek at this wonderful, handsome man who would soon
be her husband. How she wished Hope and June and Aunt
Thalia could be here to share her happiness, to meet Nicholas and Liza.

Faith hefted the satchel onto the bed and opened it. Reality hit hard when she unwrapped the soiled Irish linen.

She forced a smile. As painful as the loss of that gown was,
she wasn't about to let anything spoil the joy of this blessed
day. Besides, it wasn't the dress that formed a happy union.
God bound the soul.

Sorting through her limited wardrobe, she selected the
blue-and-white gingham. She'd worn it the day she'd kissed
Nicholas at the pond. Spreading the dress on the bed, she
smiled, thinking, "married in blue you'll always be true."
And that's exactly how she felt. She would always be true
to Nicholas, in every way.

A second knock sounded at the door. "Faith, may I come
in?"

"Of course, Mother Shepherd."

Liza entered the room and joined Faith at the bedside. "I
always thought you looked so pretty in that dress, dear."

Faith was surprised by her candor. Liza'd never commented on Faith's appearance other than to scowl when
she wore overalls.

"I should have told you before." Liza lightly traced a hand
over the pretty material. "But as nice as you look in this one, you were stunning in the white linen. Did your aunt
make it for you?"

"No, she had it specially made by a seamstress in Cold
Water, Rose Nelson."

"Such a waste.... I wish there were some way of repairing the damage, but I'm afraid it's impossible." Liza picked
up the dress, studying it. "I imagine you had your heart set
on wearing it on your wedding day."

Faith sighed. "Rose worked very hard to finish it before
I left."

"I can see she did. Rose is an excellent seamstress."

A companionable silence filled the room.

Finally Liza spoke. "Faith, my dear. You will be a most
beautiful bride no matter what you wear."

Faith smiled. "Thank you, Mother Shepherd."

"Even should you decide to wear those disgraceful overalls!" Liza's eyes twinkled playfully.

Faith joined in the good-natured teasing. "I don't think
Nicholas would be too happy about me showing up at the
church wearing overalls."

"Nicholas would be proud to marry you, regardless."

"Well, I'll play it safe and go with the gingham," Faith
promised. "I'd hate to be left standing at the altar!"

As their merriment faded, Faith looked at Liza. She hated
to ask, but she had to know. "Mother Shepherd, do you
think Rachel will be there?"

Liza looked puzzled. "At your wedding?"

Faith nodded, her face flaming.

"Oh, no dear." Liza took Faith's hand. "Haven't you
heard?"

She shook her head. "Heard what?"

"Yesterday, after we left, Rachel boarded the stage."

"Why?" Faith was confused. "Has she gone to visit kin?"

"Oh, Faith. There's no easy way to say this. Rachel's
husband was killed in a bar fight in San Antonio. Rachel
has gone to bury Joe. Afterward she plans to return to the
East to live with friends."

"I'm sorry ... I didn't know." Faith felt very sad for
Rachel. How tragic her marriage had been.

"I'm sorry no one told you. In all the confusion ..."

Faith suddenly felt sick to her stomach. "What about
Nicholas?"

Liza busied herself straightening the bed. "What about
Nicholas?"

"Well, Joe being dead does change things."

Frowning, Liza plumped a pillow. "I can't see how."

"Joe is dead. Rachel is no longer married."

Faith waited for Liza to make the connection.

"Oh ... oh, my goodness, Faith. Nicholas was over
Rachel years ago." Liza took her by the shoulders and
gently shook her. "Look at the poor man; he's a besotted
fool! I heard him singing this morning as he shaved. Singing, Faith. He hasn't sung since Abe died. He's in love
with you, darling. He doesn't know other women exist."

Faith hugged her. "Thank you."

Liza's features sobered. "Faith, I came to see you for a reason. I'm not sure how to approach the subject, but I
know I've beaten around the bush long enough."

Faith studied her, but there wasn't a clue in the woman's
eyes as to what she was thinking. "Have I done something"

"Heavens, no!" Liza patted her hand. "It's just that I ...
Well, I can show you much better than I can tell you. If
you will come with me?"

"Of course. Just give me a minute to change."

"Oh, you needn't bother. We'll only be a minute."

"But, I'm still in my nightclothes, and someone-"

Liza smiled. "It's just us girls. And besides, you might
want to change again." Taking Faith's hand, she pulled her
toward the door.

"Shouldn't I at least put on shoes?"

"I don't think so, dear. You might be wanting-oh, never
mind. You'll see. Besides, you look like a child on Christmas morning in your nightgown, barefoot and sleepy eyed."
Her eyes softened. "Just like the daughter I always longed
for."

Faith trailed Liza as she led her to the end of the hallway.
Removing a brass key from her apron, she slipped it into
the lock and jiggled the door open. Streaks of sunlight lit
the narrow staircase.

"Don't fall," Liza cautioned as they climbed the creaking
steps to the attic.

Ornate sunburst windows were cut into each gabled end
of the house, bathing the rustic room with more light than
Faith had ever seen in the Shepherd house. She thought it
odd that such beauty was hidden away in a dusty attic. It was even stranger that she'd never noticed the lovely
windows from outside.

Faith's eyes roved the huge attic. She glimpsed their
reflections in an intricately carved cheval mirror abandoned
in an alcove. The room was filled with crates, portraits, and
discarded-but-beautiful pieces of furniture. Treasures tucked
away for no telling how long.

Liza located a large steamer trunk and turned, motioning
for Faith to join her.

"Now, before you say yes or no, just let me say, the choice
is entirely yours. But, my dear, you would honor me greatly
if you would accept my gift."

Liza opened the trunk, removing an exquisite ivory satin
wedding gown, lavishly trimmed in the finest Belgian lace.
As she held the dress for Faith to see, her eyes grew misted,
and her voice fell to a whisper. "This is the gown I married
Abe in."

"Oh, Mother Shepherd!" Faith cried, "I've never seen
anything so beautiful!"

"Yes, it's quite lovely." Liza sighed, a faraway look in her
eyes. Faith sensed Liza's thoughts were drifting back to her
own wedding day.

"This is the gift?"

Liza nodded, handing the gown to Faith.

"May I wear it today?" Faith couldn't contain the excitement in her voice.

Liza's eyes lit with expectation. "You would do this?"

"Oh, it would be my honor!"

"Wonderful!" Liza clasped her hands together, then she
reached back into the trunk.

Faith held the gown up to her and looked in the mirror.
It was breathtaking.

"Faith," Liza called, carefully removing items and setting
them aside. "Come see if you like this."

Faith hurried to see what other treasures Liza had pulled
from the steamer trunk. Gently placing the gown on a rocking chair, she knelt beside Mother Shepherd.

"This is my veil," Liza said, unfolding the many yards of
lacy material. "It's made from the same Belgian lace as the
gown.

"Oh niy!" Faith sighed.

"Let's see how it looks." Liza secured the lacy veil on
Faith's head with two combs decorated by tiny gold leaves
and pearls.

"My goodness!" Faith smiled beneath the floor-length
veil. "I feel like a princess!"

"And you're every bit as beautiful as one," Liza said.

Faith gathered the folds of her nightgown and waltzed
before the mirror. The sight of the bride-to-be, dancing
barefoot in a dusty attic, hours away from her wedding,
stirred laughter from both women.

"Do you like these?" Liza asked, holding up ivory-colored
pointy shoes that laced up the side, with mother-of-pearl
buttons on the front.

"Do I like them!" Faith exclaimed. "Those have got to be
the most beautiful pointy shoes I've seen in my life! And
you know how I feel about pointy shoes."

Liza laughed. "Yes, I've noticed! But they don't hurt half
as much-"

"When you're in love!" Faith smiled.

"I remember well." Liza agreed. "There's also a pair of
white silk stockings in here somewhere. Do you see them,
dear? I wrapped them in paper. I know they're here....
Ali, here they are."

Faith hugged Liza close. "Liza, I don't know how to
thank you for everything you've-"

"Child, you are marrying my son." Liza dabbed at Faith's
tears. "And you are soon to be my daughter. I'm the thankful one. I only want to see Nicholas happy. Now, we best
get busy!" Liza smiled. "We don't want to be late for the
church!"

Faith, bathed and dressed in her new wedding attire, stood
in her bedroom before the mirror, unable to believe the
radiant image reflected back at her. Liza's gown was truly
the most beautiful creation she'd ever seen.

"May I come in?" Liza asked, tapping at the door.

"Yes."

"Oh, my dear!" Liza said breathlessly. "You're every bit as
beautiful as I knew you would be!"

"Thank you, Mother Shepherd!" Faith whirled. "And
thank you, again, for the wedding dress. I can't believe I'm
wearing something so elegant."

"It fits as if it were made for you!" Liza's eyes glowed
with excitement. "Now, let me help you with the veil."

"Oh, I almost forgot!"

"It's those wedding-day jitters! They'll sneak up on you every time." Liza laughed, slipping the combs into Faith's
long, dark hair. "There. What do you think?"

Faith looked in the mirror, tracing a nervous hand down
the length of the lace sleeve, scalloped at the wrist. Suddenly
she turned to Liza. "I think you look beautiful, Mother
Shepherd."

And she did, dressed in a fashionable powder blue dress,
accentuated with a blue-and-white cameo pin. Her hair was
loosely secured with matching combs.